Man Arrested in Condo Fire Freed

Authorities on Friday released from custody an unemployed construction worker arrested for investigation of arson in a $5-million fire that engulfed a Pasadena condominium project under construction and spread to an adjacent townhouse complex.

Meanwhile, many of the 12 people left homeless by the late Wednesday night fire in a wealthy Pasadena neighborhood at Orange Grove and Del Mar boulevards returned to their homes to salvage belongings.

Timothy Loxson, 26, of South Pasadena was arrested Thursday morning because he gave conflicting statements to investigators and because he matched eyewitness descriptions of a man seen running from the fire, said Pasadena Fire Department Marshal Peter Butler.

Loxson denied having anything to do with the fire that investigators believe was started with a flammable liquid. He was released from custody for lack of evidence Friday morning after questioning, Butler said. Butler declined to say whether Loxson remained a suspect in the investigation.

“We interviewed him, got some questions answered and then released him pending further investigation,” Butler said. “There are other avenues we want to pursue in the case.”

In a brief telephone interview, Loxson said, “I was taken in for suspicion of arson.

“I’m completely innocent. . . . My name has been dragged all over the place. I was laid off, and that was what they thought my motive was.”

Loxson was one of seven men relieved of their jobs at the construction site Dec. 1--the same day a small arson fire caused $5,000 damage to stairwells and a wall at the half-completed, three-story, eight-unit condominium project.

The luxury condominium project, which was being built by the Construction Group of Los Angeles, was scheduled to open in March.

The project has been controversial since it was first proposed more than a year ago. Some nearby homeowners complained that its construction would pave the way for further condominium development in an area marked by large Victorian homes.

Eyewitnesses to Wednesday night’s fire, including a security guard from nearby Ambassador College, reported seeing a suspicious man running from the fire, which was preceded by a loud explosion. In addition, several college students reported the smell of gasoline in the air 30 minutes before the fire started.

The security guard “saw a man enter a late model Nissan parked on the south side of Del Mar Boulevard,” said David Hulme, spokesman for the college. “The dark-colored car pulled away from the curb squealing tires while driving east on Del Mar at high speed.”

Residents of the seven nearby townhouses heavily damaged in the fire returned to the charred remains of their homes Friday morning to recover what belongings they could. Some were staying with relatives or friends, while others had taken advantage of an offer from Pasadena’s Doubletree Hotel, which is providing free lodging for one week to the fire victims.

Roy Armstrong, who markets designer clothing in California for a Utah company, said he lost 20 years’ worth of business data in his computer. Armstrong, who moved into his townhouse only eight months ago, was among the few of those victimized by the fire who had not bought insurance.

“It’s one of those things you just don’t take care of,” he said, surveying the water-soaked and splintered remains of his office.